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Annette Charles, best known for her role as the sexy dancer from ‘Grease’ that woos John Travolta from away from Olivia Newton John, died in her home from cancer.
According to TMZ: “Annette had recently started having difficulty breathing … and when she went to the doctor she learned that she had a cancerous tumor in one of her lungs.”
Mary Cardona, who spoke with Access Hollywood, confirmed that her daughter died in her home in Los Angeles after being hospitalized for one month. This is the second ‘Grease’ star this year that that has died – following Jeff Conway’s death in May (who was known for his role as Kenickie).
After her dance career and role on the big screen, Charles went on to teach speech at California State University.
Annette’s role as the villain Cha Cha is well-known in the film Grease as well as her spectacular dance moves with John Travolta during the hand-jive scene.

Annette Charles.

‘Grease’ has lost another star.
Annette Charles, who played Cha Cha DiGregorio in 1978’s ‘Grease’ has died, Access Hollywood has confirmed.
Annette’s mother (Mary Cardona) told Access that her daughter passed away on Wednesday, after being hospitalized for approximately a month.
The actress-turned-professor, who was also battling cancer, was first hospitalized for pneumonia.
Annette, who famously danced with John Travolta in the classic movie musical and told the movie’s Pink Ladies, “They call me Cha Cha because I’m the best dancer at St. Bernadette’s,” was also a speech professor at California State University Northridge, in Northridge, Calif., following her career on the big screen.
In May, Jeff Conaway, who co-starred in ‘Grease’ with Annette as Kenickie, died at the age of 60 after spending weeks in a coma and struggling with addiction issues in recent years.

Just over two months after the death of ‘Grease’ star Jeff Conaway, another cast member has passed away.
Annette Charles, who played racy dancer Cha Cha DiGregorio, died on Wednesday at her home in Los Angeles.
The brunette beauty was 63-years-old and had been suffering from cancer after being diagnosed a few months ago.
A representative for the actress confirmed to TMZ that she died from complications relating to the disease.
Cha Cha was the girl who stole Danny Zucco – John Travolta – from Sandy – Olivia Newton John – on the dancefloor during the school dance and was the on/off girlfriend of villain Craterface (Dennis Stewart).
Her “hand jive” was one of the film’s most memorable dance moves.
In the iconic film ,she was referred to as “the best dancer at St Bernadette’s… with the worst reputation”.
Before her role in ‘Grease’, Annette had a highly successful television career appearing in several long running series in the 1970′s including ‘Emergency! Barnaby Jones’ and ‘The Bionic Woman’.
After retiring from acting in 1978, she became a speech professor and taught at the California State University in Northridge.
Her co-star Jeff Conaway, who played Kenickie, also died tragically, aged 60, earlier this year.
He was found unconscious in his Encino, California home on May 11 by his girlfriend Vicki who called an ambulance and had him rushed to hospital.
He had fallen into a coma and died on May 27 after his family chose to turn off his life support.
Conaway had been treating himself with pain pills and cold medicine while in a weakened condition – his manager Phil Brock said.